AGE APPROPRIATE

Heritage at the front and contemporary at the rear, this home in regional Victoria casually and confidently blends decades of trends.

- Georgia Madden

Unliveable’ is how Felicity describes the rundown, postwar bungalow in Newtown, Victoria, that she and her husband Gary purchased in 2018. But the house had many other features in its favour, including a charming heritage facade, a large, north-facing backyard, and a convenient proximity to the school their sons attended. With a bit of work, the couple knew it would make the perfect base for their family, which includes Sam, 19, Jimmy, 16, Grace, 3, golden retriever Ollie and cat Sox.

The plan was to restore the characterful front portion of the house in line with heritage regulations and knock down the rest, replacing it with a new, contemporary build. “We wanted a large, modern space where we could entertain family and friends, but we also sought separate zones for us all to escape to,” says Felicity. “We’re a busy household with children of varying ages, so it was important that the boys have somewhere quiet to study or enjoy some privacy with their friends.”